Read Full Article HereAlopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes patchy spots of hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. It is estimated that around 700,000 Americans currently have some form of alopecia areata.
Treatments vary depending on the severity of the condition, and every individual with the diagnosis responds differently to different techniques. Many patients will regrow hair without treatment. Others experience hair regrowth from options such as topical or injected corticosteroids, oral medications, topical immunotherapy, or Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that change the way a person’s immune system responds.
Sometimes alopecia areata doesn’t respond to first-line approaches. When you’ve tried a number of these therapies without noticeable hair regrowth, you might be said to have “treatment-resistant” alopecia areata.
Sometimes alopecia areata responds to treatment initially and then a certain therapy stops working as well, says Rehan Karim, DO, a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners in North Dallas, Texas.
Plan to arrive at your appointment prepared to discuss spots where hair loss is getting worse, or new patches of hair loss. Look out for changes in hair growth on other parts of your body, like your eyebrows, eyelashes, and armpits, he says. These changes could be signs alopecia areata has progressed to alopecia totalis (hair loss on the entire scalp) or alopecia universalis (hair loss on the entire body). These types of hair loss may respond better to different treatment options.Dr. Karim also recommends sharing other recent changes in your life or medical history, such as new stressors, a recent pregnancy, or a diagnosis of another autoimmune disease that could either be contributing to hair loss or change the type of treatment options he might suggest trying next.
